League

Ilkeston Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when James Little kicked off to start the match. Antony Collingwood hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. Romeo Donaghy recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Ilkeston's zone, Marc Poynton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Aaron Ripley came out of the goal and Marc Poynton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Jacob Meehan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carl Robertson having to interfere. Carl Robertson took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from James Little, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 27 minutes into the game, Tatsfield FC's Marc Poynton nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Aaron Ripley made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Henry Corbridge's late challenge caught a Tatsfield FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Henry Corbridge helped the player get up and apologised. After 34 played minutes Ilkeston got a freekick which was hit by Henry Corbridge. The audience was convinced that Marc Poynton's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Aaron Ripley was relentless in the 38th minute of the game. Jacob Meehan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. James Little fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 49th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carl Robertson having to interfere.

The wind increased when Romeo Donaghy made the kick off in the second half. In the 54th match minute, Ilkeston was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Robert Woodward to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in Ilkeston's zone, Marc Poynton stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Aaron Ripley came out of the goal and Marc Poynton tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After having played for 60 minutes, Jacob Meehan managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ilkeston's supporters crossed their fingers, but Jacob Meehan was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. James Little scored 1-2 in the 64th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Carl Robertson, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Rodd Connery hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. In the 70th minute, James Little left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ilkeston fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. If Romeo Donaghy had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 85th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marc Poynton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Jane Trimble had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Jacob Meehan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Carl Robertson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If James Little had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Brian Hammett charged in rather forcefully in the 98th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Brian Hammett the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.